Many times, families move aging parents into their homes at a point when they need some amount of assistance. They can usually bathe and dress themselves, take their medicines as scheduled, and perhaps do a bit of light housework. However, they aren’t able to manage on their own if they can’t shop and do some of the heavier chores they’ve always done. Sadly, there comes a point where you begin to notice that they need more care than you can give them, so you wonder if the time for residential assisted living has arrived. Here are some of the things to watch for.
Progressive Memory Loss
When they first moved in with you, they were able to keep track of their medications, but it has gotten to the point where you are afraid to let them have control of that. Sometimes they completely forget to take their medications and other times they forget they’ve already taken them and take a dose or two too many. Both are equally dangerous, so you need to be there to monitor what they are taking, and when. If you work a full-time job and are unable to be there, it could be extremely dangerous leaving them alone. You could check out assisted living Potomac MD with memory care to ensure they are getting what they need, when they need it.
Self-Care Becomes a Problem
When they can no longer safely take baths or showers, get clothed for the day, or start to experience urinary incontinence, assisted living would probably be the best solution for them. Not only are you unable to be in the home 24/7 but it takes qualified healthcare nurses and CNAs to give them the care they need. Also, around-the-clock nurses cost so much more than even the nicest assisted living residences, so that could be a consideration as well.
Bouts of Uncontrollable Anger
Uncontrollable anger is common among elderly patients suffering from dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. They forget who they are talking to, often thinking you are a stranger. They start screaming for someone who has been gone for years, and they can become physically violent. It really does take trained professionals to deal with these kinds of behaviors because either the patient or the worker can get injured. This is something many families encounter when trying to keep elderly parents with late-stage dementia because they felt bad moving them to assisted living.
These are the main signs to look for when trying to consider whether the time has arrived to move them into an assisted living residence with memory care. Even if you start to feel guilty, it is best to understand that you are doing the right thing for them. You can’t give them the kind or amount of care they need, so they are safer in a residence with around-the-clock help available. Once again, although you may feel like you are letting them down after all the years they cared for you, the reverse is probably true. You are moving them to a safer environment where they can enjoy a quality of life you just can’t give them. The decision is in your hands, but if it’s time, moving them is an act of love.
